Panicum hillebrandianum

HABIT Perennial. Culms erect; 10–20 cm long. Leaf-sheaths longer than adjacent culm internode; hirsute. Ligule a ciliate membrane; 2 mm long. Leaf-blades ascending; linear, or lanceolate; 3–6 cm long; 6–7 mm wide; coriaceous. Leaf-blade margins ciliate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; ovate; 5 cm long. Primary panicle branches ascending.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets oblong; dorsally compressed; 3 mm long; falling entire.

GLUMES Glumes reaching apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume ovate; 0.33 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 3–5 -veined. Lower glume apex obtuse. Upper glume elliptic; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 7 -veined. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren; without significant palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret similar to upper glume; elliptic; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; 9 -veined; acute. Fertile lemma elliptic; dorsally compressed; 2 mm long; indurate; without keel. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex acute. Palea involute; indurate.

FLOWER Anthers 3.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION Pacific: north-central.

NOTES Paniceae. Hitchcock 1993.

Please cite this publication as detailed in How to Cite Version: 3rd February 2016.